The younger brother pointed towards me. “That is not confidence. That is panic.”
“That observation was unnecessary.”
One older council member still lingering outside the doorway spoke calmly. “The human handles embarrassment surprisingly well.”
I turned instantly. “WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE.”
“We are observing.”
“That is just creepy with political authority.”
The ruler ignored me completely while studying my demon thoughtfully. “He looks happier.”
My demon bristled immediately. “I have always looked the same.”
The entire hallway went silent. Then Anderson said flatly, “That is objectively untrue.”
Nina gasped dramatically. “OH MY GOD. Even Hell knows he’s soft now.”
“I am not soft.”
“You bought strawberries twice.”
“That is enough from everyone.”
Unfortunately for him, several palace servants seemed quite invested after hearing that. One servant quietly whispered toward another, “The prince repeated a courtship offering.”
The second servant was horrified. “Voluntarily?”
My demon closed his eyes briefly like existing in this conversation had become a personal punishment. I couldn’t even argue with that reaction.
Eventually Anderson physically forced the remaining council members and servants out of the room before the palace apparently turned into a live gossip broadcast. The giant doors finally shut behind them with a heavy echo through the chambers. Peace at last. And that lasted for approximately four seconds.
Then Nina turned toward me with terrifying energy. “So. You accidentally speedran demonic dating culture.”
“I hate this place.”
The younger brother leaned lazily across the couch beside her. “Actually most demons would consider your courtship deeply romantic.”
“I SUMMONED HIM DRUNK.”
“Yes,” he said thoughtfully. “Which adds personal intensity.”
I shot my demon a desperate look. “Can you control your family?”
“No.”
“That was too fast.”
For the first time all evening, a tiny actual smile pulled briefly at the corner of his mouth before disappearing again. And God help me, seeing him smile still did horrible things to my mental stability. Nina eyed between both of us and groaned dramatically. “You two keep staring at each other like divorced people at a wedding.”
“We are not divorced,” my demon answered automatically.
His expression changed slightly after realizing what he’d just said. The younger brother fell sideways laughing into the couch cushions while Nina screamed loud enough to echo through the palace chambers.
“Oh my GOD,” she choked out. “That was WORSE.”
“I meant….”
